Michael

...Ha! I bet they pay better than Diver Magazine! 

If you are serious about getting natural, un-manipulated green anaconda shots underwater and have a few $$$, I suggest you try Bonito in Southwestern Brazil in winter (May-August). I was there 4 years ago and had lots of luck and memorable encounters with a 16 ft. green anaconda in the clear river (spring fed - think Crystal River but with lots of toothy creepy crawlies). No pulling the snake into the water for shots. It's already there, along with all the caimans & other jungle goodies. You ease into the water and slowly work your way into the vegetation. Thrilling...

There are lots of wildlife tours there, but you really need a guide (a very good one) who can pull strings and get permission for you to go into private riverside property (enormous cattle ranches) where you can really spend the time and look for the snakes, etc. Unfortunately, things there have gotten very expensive in the last few years.

Good luck,

Michael Patrick O'Neill
www.mpostock.com

Photos - Green anaconda underwater, Cuviers dwarf caiman & Sucuri River - typical spring in the vicinity of Bonito, with that beautiful clear water.

Hi John,

I bought the 16-35mm one year ago and use it on my two D700 for both topside and uw (with the Aquatica glass 9.25 dome and 63.5mm/2.5 extension ring). I've used it with/wo diopter and can't tell the difference. I love the lens and at one point used it for 200+ dives straight without switching to my other favorite, the Nikon 16mm. To me, occasional corner softness catches my eye (depending on settings) but doesn't bother me at all bc image buyers don't notice it/care. I guess only photographers catch these details). I also notice some distortion along the edges but again to me no big deal.

It's a fast focusing lens but not as fast as the 16mm, in my experience. Low light? No worries. I've done three cold & dark trips this year (British Columbia 2x and North Carolina - just back last night. Conditions were challenging: low viz due to swells from Atlantic storms and deep wrecks. Lens focused spot on sand tigers and other deep sea goodies.

What I especially like is the zoom. I rarely, if ever, have to crop an image. I hope this helps.

Best fishes,

Michael Patrick O'Neill
www.mpostock.com